Finding a bed bug bite can be unsettling, but you need to treat them immediately. In this article, we talk about how to get rid of bed bug bites.
Safe Effective Bed Bug Killers
Bed bugs are nonflying parasites and difficult to get out of the home. These tiny insects feed by sucking blood from warm-blooded animals and humans. They can live anywhere in the home, as long as they have access to their hosts. Therefore, they are more commonly found around beds, although they also favor cracks and upholstered furniture.
Finding a bed bug bite can be disheartening, but you need to take careful steps to get rid of the bed bug bites.
Are those bed bug bites?
Before you rush into conclusions that you found bed bug bites, use these signs to identify them;
- Bites might look like a rash in some people but usually have small, flat, or raised bumps with circles around them.
- Bites may appear in clusters or straight rows
- Bed bug bites can also cause intense itching.
- Bites might be angrily red and may even swell
- Bed bug bites usually occur around exposed skin in the neck, hands, arms, and face
- Look for rust-colored dark spots, shed skins, egg cases, or fecal stains in cracks or crevices around the bed and other areas in the home.
Should I worry about the bites?
The first source of worry would be whether these bites are life-threatening. However, bed bug bites are not exactly life-threatening. Bed bugs are not carriers of diseases, although there are claims that they might carry the Chagas disease.
Nevertheless, some people might have allergic reactions to bed bug bites. On its own, the bites might heal in a few weeks, but some people have also been known to develop a secondary infection from the bug bite. If there are additional symptoms such as the following, then you must see the doctor immediately:
How to get rid of bed bug bites
The safest route when you find a bed bug bite is to treat them as soon as possible. Here are a few medications and remedies you can use:
- Toothpaste: Apply a generous amount of toothpaste around the bite marks to relieve itching. However, if you have sensitive skin, do not use toothpaste on your skin because it can also make the bites worse
- Baking soda: Make a paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the marks. Leave on for about 1 hour before washing the surface. Make sure the paste dries off before you wash off.
- Witch Hazel: You can also relieve itching by using apply witch hazel around the bite marks. If you do not have any, substitute with lemon juice or Aloe Vera.
- Over-the-counter medications: You can also use steroids or oral antihistamines to soothe the skin especially when itching is severe.
Bed bugs do not spread diseases but it is important to get rid of the bug bites as soon as possible. Avoid scratching the bites to prevent breaks in the skin that might be infected easily. Look out for signs of an allergic reaction. Lastly, contact the professionals to deal with the bed bug infestations. Repeated events of bed bug bites can ultimately lead to an allergic reaction, which is life threatening. Calling professionals is the most effective way to get rid of bed bugs from the home.
